Pope Ex Rel. Pope v. Cumberland County Hospital System, Inc.

ELMORE, Judge.

Plaintiff Jeannie Pope was admitted to the Cape Fear Valley Medical Center (CFVMC) in Fayetteville, North Carolina for induction of labor on 2 February 1999. At approximately 4:20 a.m. on 3 February 1999, Dr. Linda McAlister examined the status of Ms. Pope’s cervix. Dr. McAlister determined that she would rupture the membranes in order to expedite delivery and then immediately insert a fetal scalp electrode to monitor the fetal heart rate more accurately. At 4:24 a.m Dr. McAlister artificially ruptured Ms. Pope’s membranes. In preparation for the attachment of the fetal scalp…